Good Friday morning, Boulder, and happy Juneteenth.
Leading today: The Anti-Defamation League has filed a federal civil rights complaint accusing BVSD of failing to protect a Jewish student at Southern Hills Middle School from nearly two years of antisemitic harassment. The complaint alleges the bullying continued even after school and district investigations concluded the student faced a hostile environment, culminating in a December assault that resulted in a juvenile criminal summons. The filing comes as parents raise broader concerns about how BVSD handles bullying and discrimination complaints. Jenna Sampson reports.
Also today: A fake “CU parent” account has roiled Boulder’s CU Regent race. Boulder Reporting Lab obtained screenshots linking a deleted Reddit post attacking candidate Kubs Lalchandani to the campaign manager of his opponent, Edie Hooton, sparking controversy in the final weeks before the Democratic primary. Brooke Stephenson reports.
And in BRL Opinion: Five restaurant and business groups dispute a recent column by regular BRL columnist and CU professor Brian Keegan, arguing his wage analysis is flawed and that raising tipped wages could hurt independent restaurants while doing little to boost workers’ earnings.
More, Below the Fold:
- BoulderCAST: Heat returns, with a slight storm chance this weekend.
- Climate: Boulder wants to showcase your climate-ready yard (sponsored).
- Xcel: Mystery odor traced to maintenance work, not a gas leak.
- Sundance: New rules clear the way for signs and food trucks.
- Wildfire: County pauses chipping program amid overwhelming demand.
- Walk & Bike Month: Dog walk Saturday, Bike to Work Day Wednesday.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Rachel Friend is an attorney and former Boulder Mayor Pro Tem running for Boulder County Treasurer. For the past decade, Friend has championed affordability, transparency, and responsible fiscal stewardship in local government. She is endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, DA Michael Dougherty, Mayor Aaron Brockett, Senator Judy Amabile and many other local leaders. Learn more at friendfortreasurer.com.
Federal complaint accuses Boulder Valley School District of failing Jewish student amid years of antisemitic bullying
The Anti-Defamation League alleges BVSD allowed a hostile environment for a Jewish student to persist, as other families raise concerns about the district’s handling of bullying complaints. Continue reading…
Fake ‘CU parent’ Reddit post in Boulder CU Regent race linked to opponent’s campaign manager
A Reddit user posing as the mother of an incoming CU student targeted candidate Kubs Lalchandani. The account was linked to the campaign manager for his opponent, Edie Hooton. Continue reading…
Weekend heat, with a small side of storms
Today keeps the calm, comfortable vibe in Boulder with sunshine, light winds and highs in the upper 80s under a lingering ridge. Tonight cools to around 60.
Saturday brings a small shift as that ridge slides east and a weak disturbance clips the northern Rockies. Most of the forcing stays away from Boulder, but a few isolated afternoon or early‑evening thundershowers could pop up along the Front Range. Severe storms — the ones with big hail and a few tornadoes — should remain well northeast of us. It will be hot, though, with highs soaring into the mid‑90s.
Sunday and Monday look similar: a broad, weak trough overhead, limited moisture, and only 10%-20% chances for a late‑day storm. Our highs will dip back into the 80s and largely stay there heading into next week.
Finally, for those waiting for the monsoon, there’s still no real sign of it kicking in yet, though long‑range guidance hints at subtropical moisture reaching the Four Corners area sometime after the Fourth of July, which matches typical climatology.
Submit your climate-ready landscape to Boulder’s new community showcase (sponsored)
Celebrate the landscapes helping our community adapt to a changing climate. Whether it’s a backyard, a shared neighborhood space or even a small apartment balcony, submit your project or idea and help spotlight the power of climate‑ready design in Boulder.
All projects that meet the basic criteria will be featured in our digital showcase, and the first 200 qualifying submissions will receive a $50 gift card as a thank you for participating.
That rotten-egg smell across Boulder County? Xcel says it wasn’t a gas leak.
If you noticed a strong sulfur or rotten-egg odor Tuesday in South Boulder, Louisville, Lafayette or Eldorado Springs, Xcel Energy says there was no natural gas leak and no threat to public safety.
The smell came from scheduled maintenance at one of the utility’s facilities involving equipment used to add mercaptan — the odorant that gives natural gas its distinctive smell so leaks can be detected. As part of the work, the equipment was removed and transported, allowing the odor to spread into nearby communities.
Xcel said the maintenance work was expected to be completed Tuesday evening, though some lingering odors may still be noticeable for a short time afterward.
Boulder approves new rules for Sundance Festival signs and food trucks
The Boulder City Council on Thursday unanimously approved a new permitting process for the Sundance Film Festival, paving the way for large signs, food trucks and other temporary festival activations across the city.
The permit establishes rules for temporary signage during major festivals, when businesses are expected to transform storefronts and public spaces with showrooms, events and parties. Applicants will be required to submit sign plans that meet city requirements, including maintaining pedestrian access, limiting how signs are attached to landmarked buildings and complying with outdoor lighting regulations.
The ordinance also relaxes spacing and density restrictions for food trucks during qualifying festivals. City officials said the framework was modeled on a similar permitting system used in Park City, Utah, Sundance’s longtime home. The Sundance Film Festival will make its Boulder debut in January 2027.
📚 Boulder bet $34 million to land Sundance. High lodging prices are raising concerns.
County wildfire chipping program on pause due to high demand
Boulder County’s Wildfire Partners chipping program has stopped accepting new applications after demand outpaced contractor capacity.
The program helps residents dispose of branches, brush and other vegetation removed during wildfire mitigation projects, such as tree pruning and creating defensible space around homes.
County officials said previously approved chipping events will continue as scheduled. The pause will allow staff and contractors to complete existing commitments, maintain service quality and assess future capacity. Information about when applications will reopen will be posted on the program’s website.
The community chipping program typically operates from April through November.
Dog walk this weekend, Bike to Work Day next week
June is Boulder’s Walk and Bike Month, and several community events are still ahead.
The Big Boulder Dog Walk takes place Saturday at the Cottonwood Trail, where participants and their pets will walk a 2.4-mile route. Dogs must be leashed or enrolled in Boulder’s Voice and Sight Program.
The month’s signature event, Bike to Work Day, is Wednesday. Free breakfast stations will be set up across Boulder County for people biking or walking to work, with locations stretching from Boulder to Longmont and including Lafayette, Louisville and Superior.
The month wraps up June 27 with the W360 Slow Marathon, an all-day walking event featuring routes through Boulder neighborhoods, parks and open space, along with rest stops for participants.
Commentaries are opinion pieces from community members and newsmakers. They reflect the views of the authors, not BRL. Want to submit one? Here’s how.
Restaurant groups: The data professor got Boulder restaurant wages wrong
Restaurant and business groups respond to Brian Keegan’s tipped-wage column in Boulder Reporting Lab. Continue reading…
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